Fixture construction



Dec. 30, 1,930. R. B. BENJAMIN FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 16, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 30, 1930. R, BBENJAMlN 1,787,032

FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION me?? for;

Gil

PATENT OFFICE REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FIXTURE CONSTRUCTION Appueamn sied July 1e, 1927. seriarno. 206,158.

My invention relates to a ceiling fixture construction. i i One of the objects of my invention .is to provide an improved ceiling fixture construction which will facilitate installation.

A further object is to provide a ceiling fixture construction which will be durable, eiiicient, easy to assemble, and cheap to manufacture.

Further objects will appear from the description and claims.

In the drawings, in which two embodiments of my invention are shown,

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section through 15 the outlet box and fixture;

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the upper subassembly;

' Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the lower subassembly; Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a vertical axial section showing another form of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lower subassembly of Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings 1n detail and first to Figs. 1 to 4, the construction shown comprises a ceiling outlet box, an .upper subassembly comprising wiring terminals 1 and la for the feed wires, contacts 2 and 3 elec- 30'trically connected with these wlring terminals for ready engagement and disengagement with respect to corresponding contacts 4 and 5 on the lower sub-assembly, a screwthreaded annular connector member 6 yfor screw-threaded engagement with a corresponding connector member 7 on the lower sub-assembly, and securing and supporting means 8 for holding the upper sub-assembly with respect to the position of the outlet box which also serve as a cover for the outlet box, and a second sub-assembly readily connectible and disconnectible with respect to the first sub-assembly comprising a reflector supporting and housing member 9, a lamp receptacle 10 secured to and within this reflector supporting housing member, the contacts 4 and 5 electrically connected with the contacts of the lamp receptacle` for ready connectlon and disconnection electrically with res et to the contacts 2 and 3 on the upper su -assembly and a screw-threaded connector 7 for engagement with the corresponding screwthreaded connector 6 on the upper subassembly.

The outlet box may be of any usual or suitable construction having an opening through which the feed wires are led into the outlet box and having a pair of ears 12 to which the flange on the supporting cover member 8 is secured by means of screws 13. The threaded connector 6 may be secured to the cover of the outlet box by means of rivets 14 extending through inwardly extending flanges on the threaded connector and cover. These rivets also serve to hold in place a snap spring retaining device which holds in place the insulating base 15 on which-the contacts 2 and 3 and wiring terminals 1 and 1a are mounted. This snap spring retainer is in the form of a spring strap 16 having a pair of downwardly extending spring fingers 17 having inwardly extending spring tongues 18 which snap into registering notches 19 in the insulating base 15. These spring tongues hold the insulating base in position until the lower sub-assembly is secured in place by screwing the threaded ring 7 on the lower sub-assembly inside the threaded ring 6 on the upper subassembly. When this lower threaded ring is screwed into the upper threaded ring it effectually locks the spring fingers 17 in place, as the upper edge of the threaded ring on the lower sub-assembly enters between the spring fingers and the screw threaded ring on the upper sub-assembly. l

The cover 8, threaded ring 6, and insulating base 15 are provided with registering openings. through which the feed Wires 11 are led to the binding screws- 1 and 1a mounted on the insulating base. The binding screw 1a is threaded into a nut underneath the metal plate 21 which is secured to the insulating base by means of eyelets 22. The other binding screw 1 is threaded into a nut underneath the metal plate member 22a which also is held on the insulating base by means of eyelets 227;. The first metal plate member 21 is rovided. with a pair of arm portions 3 whic serve as contact memspring 24 is provided, the upper coil of which is securely held between the inwardly extending flange 25 on the strap 16 and the inwardly extending flange 25a on the upper screw threaded'connector 6. The lower end of this compression spring presses downwardly against the insulating base 15 when it is snapped into position, and thus holds the insulating base snugly in engagement with the upper ends of the spring tongues 18.

The reflector support and. housing member 9 may either be the upper part of the reflector itself or may be in the form of a reflector or shade holder to which the shade or reflector itself may be detachably secured. This reflector supporting and housing member has an inwardly extending annular flange 26 to which both the lamp receptacle 10 and the screw threaded connector 7 are secured by means' of screws 26a extending through an inwardly extending flange 266 on the threaded connector ring, through the inwardly extending flange 26 on the reflector supporting member and through an annular flange l27 on the insulating base A28 of the lamp receptacle 10, these screws being threaded into nu-ts 29 seated in recesses on the underside of the flange 27. The circular contact 5 of the lower sub-assembly may be electrically connected vwith the center contact 30 of the lamp receptacle by means of a central rivet 31 which also serves to mechanically secure the circular contact 5 and center contact 30 in place on the insulating base. The annular contact 4 on the lower sub-assembly may be electrically connected with the shell contact of the receptacle by means of a pair 4of`screws 32 extending through the flange 33 on the shell contact 34 and through openings 35 inthe insulating base 28, and having their upper ends threaded into the annular contact member 4.

The circuit is from .one of the feed wires to the binding screw 1a through the contacts 3, circular contact 5, rivet 31, center contact 30, lamp shell contact 34, screws 32, annular contact 4, and contact members 2 to the binding screw 1 of the otherv feed wire.

In installing this construction 4 two subassemblies are made up, the upper sub-assembly comprising the outlet box cover 8, the threaded connector ring 6, and the insulating base 1.5 with the contacts and binding screws supported thereby, andthe lower sub-assem- 'blycomprising the reflector supporting and housing member 9, the screw threaded connector ring 7, and the insulating base 28 with the connector contacts and receptacle contacts supported thereby. The upper sub-assembly is then brought to a position adjacent the outlet box, the feed wires are drawn down through the registering openings in the cover, rin and` insulating base, and secured to the inding screws, and this subassembly is then secured in place under the outlet box byl means of the screws 13 threaded into the ears 12 on the outlet box.

The lower' sub-assembly is then secured to the upper sub-assembly by bringing the screw threaded ring 7 on the lower sub-assembly into proper position with respect to the screw threaded ring 6 on the upper sub-assembly and then screwing the lower ring into the upper ring, and thus bringing the contacts on the lower sub-assembly into electrical connection with the contacts on the upper sub-assembly. The relative position of the parts is such that whenv the lower ring is screwed into the upper ring as far as it can be screwed, the insulating base and the parts slpported thereby will be forced upwardly s i prgssion spring, thus insuring that the con-- tacts on the lower sub-assembly are in good electrical connection with the contacts on the upper sub-assembly.

The construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is similar to the construction just described except that the fixture, instead of being secured to the cover of an outlet box, is secured to a tubular 'stem 36 through which the wires lead to the fixture, the lower endl of the stem being threaded into a nip le or bushing 37 secured to the upper face o the connector 6. In this form a somewhat different type of lamp receptacle is used known as the Mogul type. This receptacle is secured to the member 9 and to the connector .member 7 by means of three screws 38 which extend through openings in the engaging flanges 23 and Aare threaded into an anchor plate 39 secured to the insulating base of the receptacle by means of three eyelets 40.

The installation of the construction is effected in the same manner as in the construction previously described.

While I have described but two embodiments of my invention,it is obvlous that many modifications therein may occur to those skilled in the art, and I desire, therefore, that my invention be Alimited only by the scope of the appended claims and by the prior art.

I claim: g

1. A ceiling fixture construction comprising a unit to be secured to the ceiling and a second unit detachably secured to said first unit, said first unit comprising a wiring base and an inverted cup-shaped housing in which said c wiring base is mounted, said housing being provided with a screw-threaded contly against the action of the coil com-f nector member surrounding said wiring base,

y said wiring b ase being provided with wiring terminals and readily engageable and disengageable contact members, said secondiunit comprising a reflector member and a lamp socket carried thereby, said reflector member being provided with a threaded connector member rigid therewith and non-rotatable with' respect thereto for engagement with said first threaded connector member, whereby the connection may be made by rotating the reflector member, said socket comprising lamp contacts and readily engageable and disengageable contacts for engagement with the contacts on the wiring base, said connector members being distinct from and not lectrically connected with said contact memers.

2.- A ceiling fixture construction comprising a unit to be secured to the ceiling and a second unit detachably secured to said first unit, said first unit comprising a wiring base and a connector member, said wiring base being provided with wiring terminals and readily iengageable and disengageable contacts, said second unit comprising a lightcontrolling member and a lamp socket carried and surrounded thereby, said light-controlling member being provided with a connector member rigid therewith and non-rotatable with respect thereto for engagement with said rst connector member by a rotary movement, whereby the connection may be made by rotating the light-controlling member, said socket comprising lamp contacts and readily engageable and disengageable contacts for engagement with contacts on the wiring base, said connector members being distinct from and not electrically connected with said contact members.

3. A ceiling fixture construction comprising a readily attachable and detachable unit for connection with a unit which is secured to the ceiling, said ceiling unit-comprising a wiring base and a.connector member, said provided with wiring terminals and readily engageable an-d disengageable contacts, said readily attachable and detachable unit comprising a reflector member and a lamp socket carried thereby, said reflector member being provided with aconnector member rigid therewith and non-rotatable with respect thereto for engagement with said first connector member by a rotary movement, whereby the 'connection may be made by rotating the reflector member, said socket comprising lamp contacts and readily engageable andfdisengageable contacts forengagement with the contacts on the ceiling unil-.,'iitsaid connector member being distinct from and not electrically connected with said contact members.

4. A ceiling fixture construction comprising. a unit to be secured to the ceiling and a second unitv detachably secured to said'first and a connector member, said'wiring base v being provided with wiring terminals and readily engageable and disengageable contacts, said second unit comprising a reflector member and a lamp socket carried thereby, said reflector member being provided with a connector memberl rigid therewith and nonrotatable with respect thereto for engagement with said first connector member by a rotary movement, whereby the connection may be made by rotating the reflector member, said socket comprising lamp contacts and readily engageable and disengageable contacts for engagement with contacts on the wiring base, said reflector member being provided with an inwardly extending downwardly facing shoulder at'its upper part, and said lamp socket being provided with anupwardly facing shoulder at its upper part above the lamp contacts secured against said downwardly facing shoulder, said connector members being distinct from and not electrically connected with said contact members.

5. A ceiling fixture construction comprising a unit to be secured to the ceiling and a second unit detachably secured to said rst unit, said Y first unit comprisin a wiring base and a connector member, said wiring base being provided with wiring terminals and readily engageable and disengageable contacts, said second unit comprising a reflector member and a lampsocket carried thereby, said reiiector member being provided with a connector member rigid therewith and non-rotatable with respect thereto for engagement with said first connector member by a rotary movement, whereby the connection may be made byprota'ting the reflector member, said socket comprising lamp contacts and readily engageable and disengageable contacts for engagement with contacts on the wiring base, said lamp socket being readily attachable and detachable with respect to said reflector member, whereby various styles of socket may be used interchangeably with the same reflector member, said connector members being distinct from and not electrically connected with said contact members.

6. A ceiling xture construction comprising a unit to be secured to the ceiling and a second unit detachably secured to said first unit, said first unit comprising a wiring base and a connector member, said wiring' base being provided withwiring terminals and readily engageable and disengageable conta'cts, said second unit comprising a reflector member and a lamp socket carried thereby, said reflector member being provided with a connector member rigid therewith and nonrotatable with respect thereto for'engagement with said first connector member byv a rotary movement, `whereby the connection may be made by rotating the reector member, said socket comprising lamp contacts and readily1 engageable and disengageable contacts for engagement with contacts on the wiringv base, said first unit comprising an inverted cupshaped housing in which said Wiring base is L mounted having an opening through which the feed 'wires for the wiring base extend,

said connector members being distinct from and not'electrically connected with said ceni tact members.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

v. REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. c 

